Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin has told members of international Community that his refusal to sign and relinquish ownership right of repatriated Benin ancestral artefacts and allow them to take charge of the artworks, made some business partners of former Governor, Godwin Obaseki to conspire against Benin palace.
Oba Ewuare made the accusation while addressing a delegation of European diplomats, including the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gautier Mignot, and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Annett Günther and Netherlands Diplomat on Monday at his Palace in Benin City where they reflected on the incident that happened at the previewing of the Museum for West African Art, MOWAA on Sunday in Benin City.
The first Class traditional ruler stated that his relationship with the former Governor was strained, following his refusal to mortgage the right of Benin people to sign document brought before him by group known as ‘Legacy Restoration Trust’.
He said the development prompted Obaseki’s partners in the project to cut-off ties with the Palace and started raising money in the name of the Palace to find EMOWAA project, which later metamorphosed into MOWAA in the wake of the sudden turn of events: enactment of Federal Republic of Nigeria Gazette No. 57, Volume 110 at pages A245-247 issued on March 23rd, 2023.
The Government Gazette, which recognized ownership and vested Custody and Management of all Benin Artefacts, including 1897 Benin bronzes looted from the ancient Benin Palace during British expedition, in the Oba of Benin, according to Oba Ewuare, who also insisted that Obaseki sourced donations from the German Government
and and other international donors in the name of Benin Royal Museum, which he swapped for MOWAA.
Oba Ewuare while appealing to the delegation to support investigation into what the illegal deals around MOWAA and cooperate with Edo State Government with a view to unravel what transpired in the interest of peace and justice, challenged the Envoys to research thoroughly on evolution of face-off between the Benin palace and Management of MOWAA in order not to commit a fallacy.
According to him, “It’s clear that former Governor Obaseki collected monies from international donors the Germany meant to build Benin Royal Museum for MOWAA. Why the different name change and different name structure from EMOWAA to MOWAA?”.
“They quietly brought me a document to me to sign away and mortgage our right and get approval for the one they set up: Legacy Restoration Trust to take over all the Benin Bronzes; And I said I can’t sign that. We have seen any documents.
“That former Governor was very angry with my people. He was always angry with the palace. He was an oppressor.
“He (Obaseki) got angry because I did not relinquish my right for them to take charge of my ancestral properties”, Oba Ewuare while stating that the incident that happened during the botched previewing of MOWAA was unintended at all”.
Earlier in his address,
EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot said the mission of the delegation was to pay homage to the monarch and strengthen Diplomatic cooperation with Edo State.
“We have just paid a courtesy call to His Royal Majesty to present our greetings and explain the reason for our visit, which is to deepen our partnership with Edo State.
He said, “we also discussed the MOWAA project and the unfortunate incidents that occurred. We exchanged views in a spirit of dialogue and partnership, which is how we intend to move forward”.
Mignot explained that while the European Union as an institution has no direct investment in MOWAA, some EU member states, including Germany, are partners in the initiative.
Also speaking, the German Ambassador, Annett Günther, in her remarks highlighted Germany’s longstanding partnership with Edo State in migration management, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation.
“I am honoured to have paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, and His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State,” she said, “our cooperation extends beyond development, it includes support for cultural heritage, including the return of over 1,200 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria”.
